Hanoi-Ninh Binh Train |
At the time of visiting (End of Feb, 2012) Citadel of Ho Dynasty can reach by private car and taxi. There is no public transportation and tour.
Go
Hanoi-Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh-Tranh Hoa (Vin
Loc)
Ga Hanoi- Ga Ninh Binh
(Railway station)
Approx 95km
By train from hotel’s tour
desk in Hanoi
10USD / person, commission
is included
6.15-8.15 / 2hrs
Ninh Binh- Citadel of Ho
Dynasty (Tranh Hoa province,Vin Loc district)
Approx 60km
By private car with driver
2hrs drive each way
Total visiting time 6hrs /
10.00-16.00
Return to Hanoi
By tourist bus from
hotel’s tour desk in Ninh Binh
6USD / person
Bus stop: In front of
Thang Long Puppet Theatre, Huan Kiem Lake
2hrs
Note:
Return to Hanoi by tourist
mini bus (Open bus) on 16.00 from the hotel door step is convenient. They
dropped me off at Huan Kiem Lake.
If you want to back by
train it departed on 13.00 and stopped at Ga Hanoi a bit far from Huan Kiem
Lake. For bus there are more buses and cheapest but parked at Giap Bat station
7km from Huan Kiem Lake.
Stay
I decided to stay in Ninh
Binh based on distance and other facilities.
Hanoi-Ninh Binh town
approx 95km
Ninh Binh town-Citadel of
Ho Dynasty approx 60km
Total approx 155km
Hanoi-Tranh Hoa town
approx 150km
Tranh Hoa town-Citadel of
Ho Dynasty approx 50-60kmkm
Total approx 200-210km
Market, Ninh Binh Town |
Ninh Binh is on open bus
route and has railway station. It is centre for Halong on Land tour, so local
travel agents, car rental services and tour guides are more specialised in this
area than Hanoi's. Rooms in Ninh Binh are inexpensive to moderate. I can save
the cost of renting a car from Hanoi and less fatigue of the journey back to
Hanoi the same day. And spent the rest of the time visited Bai Dinh Pagoda and
Trang An also.
Queen Hotel, Ninh Binh Town |
My Stay
Queen Hotel
Hoang Hoa Tham Street,
Ninh Binh town
100m from Ga Ninh Binh
(Railway station)
Mid range
Double bed room with
air/con hot shower
Free breakfast
Flat TV screen, fridge,
writing desk
Elevator, free WiFi, PCs
at lobby
Restaurant
Tour desk
Spacious Twin Bed Room, Queen Hotel |
Twin Bed Room, Queen Hotel |
Queen Hotel is a short
walk from Ninh Binh Train Station. Hotel is new, clean, spacious room with
modern amenities. One thing you must realise is bargaining for room rate, tours
and car rental with the right information in your hand.
I rented a car with driver
to the Citadel of Ho Dynasty for 46USD. They organised Toyota Vios 4-seat in
good condition for me and friend.
Later day I got really old
car to Bai Dinh Pagoda and Trang An that cost 35USD. The hotel claimed we tell
them late, so good cars are out to other tour groups and the attractions are
pretty far. In fact Bai Dinh is approx 30km from Ninh Binh Town while Citadel
of Ho Dynasty is 60km.